They may have a good relationship with NBC, but their history is tumultuous. They were owned by Ted Turner back in the 70's; he then sold them to Group W, who promptly ran the station into the ground. Eventually other guys came, rescued the station and got it back off life support. Unfortunately, they've been saddled with owners who just don't know what to do with them; and with the fact that Gannett has many other, more successful stations in that region, means that WCNC keeps getting screwed over.